I read Oscar Wao recently (I think on Jesse's rec, even!) and really enjoyed it, but it did also take me a long time to finish. My favorite part was early on, when Lola is telling the story of her adolescence, running away from her family, her relationship with her mother, etc. Lola was definitely my favorite character. I found Beli's story the hardest to appreciate, and that's when I put the book down for a few weeks. But I really liked how, in the end (not terribly spoilery), it turned out to be largely Lola's story after all.
Bar maid! Bring me stronger ale! And some plump, succulent babies to eat!
Olaf the Troll ,'Showtime'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Kate P. - Jun 18, 2008 5:48:23 pm PDT #6413 of 28370
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
Jesse - Jun 18, 2008 5:56:14 pm PDT #6414 of 28370
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
I'm glad to hear that other people found it slow-going, or took breaks, or whatever, because I assume that most people here read more "good" or at least hard stuff than I do.
Kate P. - Jun 18, 2008 6:01:54 pm PDT #6415 of 28370
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love
I was glad to see that as well, actually! I read so little adult fiction these days that I assumed the problem lay with me when I didn't pick it up for days or weeks at a time.
Kat - Jun 18, 2008 6:04:20 pm PDT #6416 of 28370
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo
I assumed I was just being a slacker. Glad other people paused and restarted it.
Kat - Jun 18, 2008 8:58:50 pm PDT #6417 of 28370
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo
Just finished Oscar Wao. I think I wanted to like it much more than I did. Which is a bummer. I'm glad I'm done so I can be DONE with it (I have wicked completest issues). I need something light and fluffy and then it's off to Jane Smiley.
Fred Pete - Jun 19, 2008 5:41:34 am PDT #6418 of 28370
Ann, that's a ferret.
Kat, you could always go with Moo and take care of light and fluffy and Jane Smiley with one book.
Jesse - Jun 19, 2008 5:56:07 am PDT #6419 of 28370
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.
Fred, I was thinking the exact same thing!
Kat - Jun 19, 2008 5:57:53 am PDT #6420 of 28370
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo
HA. I could. But I have to read A Thousand Acres instead. So in the interim, i'm reading Whacked by Jules Asner, which was one of the freebies I got at BEA.
Jilli, I missed the Gaiman ARC that they were giving out. So that makes me even more jealous of your preread!
Fred Pete - Jun 19, 2008 6:00:39 am PDT #6421 of 28370
Ann, that's a ferret.
Oooooo. Yes, A Thousand Acres is anything but light and fluffy. Wonderful, especially in the characters' voices, but not light entertainment.
sumi - Jun 19, 2008 6:10:59 am PDT #6422 of 28370
Art Crawl!!!